Are UK Business Loans’ commercial‑finance partners FCA‑regulated and following FCA guidance?

Summary: Short answer — we introduce your business to lenders and brokers who are expected to follow FCA rules where those rules apply to the product or the firm. UK Business Loans is an introducer (we do not lend or give regulated advice). We carry out onboarding and ongoing checks on partners, explain what “FCA‑regulated” means for commercial finance, show you how to verify a partner’s status on the FCA Financial Services Register, and set out practical next steps. Ready to be matched with lenders and brokers? Get a Free Eligibility Check.

Quick answer: yes — and here’s what that really means

Yes — when you use UK Business Loans we introduce you only to lenders and brokers who meet our onboarding standard and who, where required by law, hold appropriate FCA permissions or operate within the regulatory perimeter. That said, commercial finance sits across a regulatory spectrum: some providers are FCA‑authorised, some operate under specific exemptions or alternative regulatory frameworks for large‑scale commercial activity, and some products fall outside FCA consumer protections. We carry out checks and continuing monitoring, but you should always confirm a partner’s status yourself before signing an agreement.

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Who we are and how we operate

UK Business Loans is an introducer that helps UK businesses seeking commercial finance to connect with specialist lenders and brokers. We are not a lender and we do not provide regulated financial advice. Our service is free for business owners and decision‑makers: complete a short enquiry and we match you to partners that understand your sector and funding need. Typical deals we help with start from around £10,000 and can run much higher for commercial projects.

• We do not make lending decisions — partners assess applications and make offers.
• Your initial enquiry will not affect your credit score; partners may carry out credit checks later and will tell you whether a soft or hard search is being used.
• Partners may contact you directly once a match is made to discuss next steps and request supporting information.

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What “FCA‑regulated” means for commercial finance

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) authorises and supervises many firms that offer financial services in the UK. FCA authorisation means the firm has a unique Financial Services Register number (FRN) and is permitted to carry out specific regulated activities such as advising on investments, credit broking or consumer lending.

Important points for commercial borrowers:

• FCA authorisation is evidence a firm has met regulatory standards. Look for the firm’s FRN on the FCA Financial Services Register (https://register.fca.org.uk/).
• Not all commercial lending is regulated in the same way as consumer credit. Some commercial finance (large business loans, development finance, certain property and asset finance) may fall outside the FCA’s consumer protections — this doesn’t mean the provider is poor quality, but it does change the protections available to you.
• When a firm is FCA‑authorised you can usually expect clearer conduct rules, transparent communications, a formal complaints process and, where applicable, signposting to the Financial Ombudsman Service. FSCS protection is typically not available for most commercial lending products — check with the provider.

How UK Business Loans vets our partners

Ongoing FCA checks & verification

Before a partner is allowed to accept referrals from us we carry out a series of checks designed to establish legal status, permissions and recent regulatory history:

• Verify entity details and FRN against the FCA Financial Services Register where relevant.
• Confirm which regulated activities and permissions the firm holds and whether any restrictions or conditions apply.
• Check the company’s recent regulatory history including any public enforcement or disciplinary actions.
• Confirm company identity and business address to reduce risk of fraudulent listings.

Financial promotions & marketing compliance

We expect partners to follow FCA financial‑promotion rules where those rules apply: promotions must be fair, clear and not misleading. As part of onboarding we review sample marketing materials to ensure claims about rates, fees or representative examples are accurate and not likely to mislead a business decision‑maker.

AML and data security checks

Partners must demonstrate anti‑money‑laundering (AML) procedures and data security standards appropriate to handling sensitive business and personal information. We require secure data handling and minimum KYC expectations so that introductions do not expose you to unnecessary risk.

Quality & performance monitoring

On an ongoing basis we monitor partner performance, user feedback and compliance indicators. Partners that receive repeated complaints, demonstrate poor conduct or fail to meet our standards are removed from the panel.

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What we cannot guarantee (transparent compliance caveat)

We introduce businesses to third‑party lenders and brokers who are separate legal entities. We do not underwrite, guarantee or broker any loan ourselves. Final lending decisions, terms and timescales are set by the lender or broker you agree to work with.

• You should confirm a partner’s FRN and permissions directly on the FCA Register.
• We cannot guarantee approval, specific rates, fees or turnaround times.
• Always read the partner’s terms of business, representative examples and full offer documents before accepting.

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How to check a firm’s FCA status — step‑by‑step

Here’s a practical checklist you can use the moment a firm first contacts you.

1. Ask for the firm’s full trading name and Financial Services Register number (FRN). Sample question: “Can you confirm your company name and FRN and which permissions you hold?”
2. Use the FCA Register: https://register.fca.org.uk/. Look for the firm’s FRN, permitted activities, registration date and any public restrictions.
3. Request the firm’s Written Terms of Business and their complaints procedure. Check whether they give regulated advice in writing.
4. Confirm if FSCS protection applies — for most commercial loans it will not. Ask what protections or guarantees are available for your specific product.
5. If anything looks unclear, ask for time to check independently — a reputable firm will expect you to do so.

Here’s a short script you can use: “Please can you confirm your company name, FRN and the exact permissions you hold on the FCA Register? Also email me your Terms of Business and complaints procedure so I can review before we proceed.”

What lenders/brokers will do when they contact you

After we introduce you, a typical process looks like this:

• Initial eligibility check — quick call or email to confirm basic details and suitability.
• Request for supporting documents — financials, bank statements, project plans, valuations or CVs depending on the product.
• Identity (KYC) checks and AML screening — providers will request ID to meet compliance obligations.
• Credit searches — partners will advise whether they plan a soft or hard credit search and the likely impact on your file.
• Timescales vary by product — simple working‑capital deals can be arranged quickly; development, bridging or large commercial property finance typically takes longer and needs surveys and valuations.

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Specifics for commercial finance sectors

Different sectors attract different underwriting checks and regulatory considerations. Below are typical expectations.

• Construction & contractor finance — lenders often require project CVs, contractor experience, named contracts, payment schedules and security (e.g. debentures or charges). Time and cost forecasting is critical.
• Sustainability & green project finance — lenders will assess projected energy savings, grant eligibility, technical surveys and the viability of the business case; they may require independent technical reports.
• Commercial property & development finance — expect valuations, exit strategies, experience checks and staged releases tied to milestones. Regulatory protections differ between consumer mortgages and commercial development loans.

Regulatory treatment varies by product — always confirm with the partner whether the product is subject to FCA consumer protection rules.

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Common questions (FAQ)

Are UK Business Loans a lender?

No. We are an introducer that connects businesses to lenders and brokers. We do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice.

Are the lenders and brokers you introduce FCA‑regulated?

Many of our partners are FCA‑authorised where required and must meet our onboarding checks. Because commercial finance covers a range of regulatory positions, you should confirm any firm’s FRN and permissions on the FCA Register before proceeding.

Will my initial enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Submitting an enquiry via our form will not affect your credit score. Partners may perform credit checks later and will tell you whether they will use a soft or hard search.

How quickly will lenders contact me?

Usually within hours during business hours. Formal offers depend on the product and can take days to several weeks for complex commercial cases.

Our Business Finance Matching Process

Step 1

Complete Your Details

It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.

Step 2

We Match Your Business

With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.

Step 3

You Get Free Quote + Advice

You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.

It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.

Is your service free?

Yes — it is free for businesses to submit an enquiry. The lender or broker you choose will explain fees and costs associated with any offer.

What if I’m declined?

Declines happen. We will try to match you with alternative partners who specialise in higher‑risk or specialist transactions, but we cannot guarantee approval.

Next steps — how to get matched

Ready to proceed? Complete our short enquiry and we’ll match you to our most suitable partners. You’ll need basic business details, the amount you want (we typically handle deals from around £10,000 upwards), and the purpose of the funding. There’s no obligation and no fee to submit.

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We only share your details with approved partners who meet our standards. You remain under no obligation until you sign an agreement with a lender or broker.

Legal & compliance notes

We act as an introducer and are not a lender or provider of regulated financial advice. You should verify partner credentials on the FCA Financial Services Register: https://register.fca.org.uk/. Read our privacy policy and terms for details about how we handle your information. For more about our process see How UK Business Loans works and About.

For sector-specific information, you may find our pages on construction finance and sustainability loans helpful. For a deeper guide to commercial finance products see our partner resources on commercial finance.

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Still unsure? If you want a quick, no‑obligation assessment and rapid introductions to suitable lenders and brokers, complete our short enquiry now: Get a Free Eligibility Check.

1. How does UK Business Loans help me get a business loan?
We’re a free introducer that matches your short enquiry to vetted UK lenders and brokers who specialise in your sector and funding needs.

2. Are the lenders and brokers you introduce FCA‑regulated?
Many partners are FCA‑authorised where required, but commercial finance sits across a regulatory spectrum so always verify a firm’s FRN on the FCA Financial Services Register.

3. Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No — completing our enquiry form won’t affect your credit score; lenders or brokers may carry out soft or hard credit checks later with your consent.

4. What loan amounts and types of finance can I access through UK Business Loans?
We typically handle deals from around £10,000 up to multi‑million commercial finance, including working capital, asset finance, invoice finance, commercial property, development and sustainability loans.

5. How quickly will lenders contact me and how long does the funding process take?
You can usually expect contact within hours during business days, while actual funding times vary from days for simple deals to weeks for complex property or development finance.

6. How do I check a lender or broker’s FCA status and permissions?
Ask the firm for its trading name and FRN, then confirm details, permissions and any restrictions on the FCA Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.

7. Are business loans arranged through your partners covered by FSCS or the Financial Ombudsman Service?
Most commercial loans are not eligible for FSCS protection, though FCA‑authorised firms must have complaints procedures and may signpost you to the Financial Ombudsman Service where applicable.

8. What documents and compliance checks should I expect from lenders and brokers?
Providers commonly request business financials, bank statements, project info and ID, and will carry out KYC/AML screening and advise whether credit checks will be soft or hard.

9. Does it cost anything to use UK Business Loans and what fees should I expect from lenders?
Our matching service is free, but any lender or broker you choose will disclose interest rates, arrangement fees and other charges in their terms and offer documents.

10. What should I do if my application is declined?
Request the decline reasons, ask whether alternative specialist partners are available through UK Business Loans, and consider improving documentation or correcting eligibility issues before reapplying.